The two Archbishops of Armagh have welcomed the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope – Pope Leo XIV.
The American-born cardinal is the 267th leader of the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis last month.
The white smoke from the famous chimney atop the Sistine Chapel signified the election of a new pope shortly after 5pm on Thursday.
Speaking about meeting the then Cardinal on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster, Archbishop Eamon Martin described Pope Leo as “a very affable and a courteous person” and “somebody who is in that kind of humility that Pope Francis has exuded over the last number of years”.
“Whenever I heard his name called out, I just thought, it’s not what I would have thought, but the more I’ve begun to think about it, clearly the Cardinals have been reflecting for a full two weeks before they even went in the door of the Sistine Chapel.
“And what are the needs of the church? What kind of person do we need at this time?”
“This is the one they’ve chosen,” he said.
Pope Leo XIV delivers his first Urbi et Orbi Apostolic Blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
The 69-year-old American, born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected as the 267th Pope on May 8 during the first full day of the conclave.
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Archbishop John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said: “As we in the Church of Ireland prepared to meet in Synod not long after the funeral of Pope Francis who refreshed the whole idea of Synodality for the Roman Catholic Church and perhaps for the Universal Church, the Cardinal electors were meeting in the Sistine Chapel to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit on who should be a successor to Francis.
“They have elected Pope Leo XIV and we rejoice with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters that a heavy responsibility has been discharged and can now be received with thanksgiving by the Christian world.
“I wish to pass on the good wishes of the Church of Ireland not only to Pope Leo but also to the bishops, priests and Catholic people of Ireland as they enter in closer communion and closer knowledge of their new Chief Shepherd.
“In any episcopal and pontifical succession beginnings are never completely new and endings are never entirely final, so we give thanks to God for the spiritual riches which Pope Leo has inherited and pray that he may know the presence of our common Lord and Saviour as he walks together in discipleship with all who are called by His Name.
“I also share my best wishes with the Catholic faithful of the United States of America on the election of the first American Pope.”
